Page 36 - WDT MAGAZINE PORTUGAL

restaurants across the street told us we had made
a good choice.

The hotel oozed comfort and old-world
charm. Entering the inn, we saw couples enjoying
the grand views while holding glasses of port or
wine. Our friendly hosts had informed us in
advance that there would be stairs to get to our
rooms but assured us that they would take care of
hoisting our heavy bags. And they did.
Our spacious room was on the ground floor,
where French doors opened onto the garden - a
perfect place to launch my drone. (More about
this later.) It took a few days to get used to the
stairs, by the end of our stay I was just barely
winded by the climb. I had become the Edmund
Hillary of Sintra. The mountaineer’s quote came to
mind, “People do not decide to become
extraordinary. They decide to accomplish
extraordinary things.” Like climbing three flights
several times a day.
Stair climbing exponentially increased my
thirst for a glass of wine. Our first stop was right

The entrance to the five-star hotel
Chalet Saudade. Below: The public
area of the hotel. Ira and Barbara
Gruber enjoying a glass of port in
the parlor.

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